Concert for a Cure - Origins Of This Event
In February of 2001, Joe and Mary McHale took their gurgling, smiling, six month old son Danny in for a checkup. After ten minutes with the physician, they were informed that their happy little boy had a neuromuscular condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and, it was terminal. When Joe and Mary asked what could be done for little Danny, the physician said “Nothing. Take him home and love him in the time you have left.” He wasn’t expected to see his first birthday. Unwilling to accept this prognosis, that afternoon the McHales called “Families of SMA” who told them “Yes, there is hope.”
Soon after, Connie Book, a member of the McHales’ church, learned of Danny’s diagnosis. Although she had met the McHales only once, she really wanted to do something to help. She offered to host an evening of music and put together a few auction items, inviting friends and neighbors to join in. That night, back in June of 2001, more than 50 people came together in the Book’s backyard. They raised $7,500 for FSMA to help further the research and development of a treatment.
2001
2002 – 2011
2012
2013 Cruising for a Cure
2014 UnCork the Cure
2015 Shoot for the Cure
2016 Champions for a Cure
2017 Round Up the Cure
2018 Aloha to the Cure
2019 Jazz & Jeans for the Cure
Soon after, Connie Book, a member of the McHales’ church, learned of Danny’s diagnosis. Although she had met the McHales only once, she really wanted to do something to help. She offered to host an evening of music and put together a few auction items, inviting friends and neighbors to join in. That night, back in June of 2001, more than 50 people came together in the Book’s backyard. They raised $7,500 for FSMA to help further the research and development of a treatment.
2001
- Concert for a Cure began in the Book's backyard and raised $7,500 for Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA) to help further research and development for a treatment
- FSMA established the clinical trial network called Project Cure SMA in order to achieve these goals
2002 – 2011
- Over the next 10 years, Concert for a Cure outgrew backyards and moved into the Blackhawk Country Club. With strong community support it has raised over $1.1 Million for FSMA
- The FDA granted orphan status to SMA
- NIH calls SMA the “gateway to neuromuscular disease treatments”
- To date, Project Cure SMA has conducted five clinical trials with an investment of over $7 million by FSMA
2012
- Concert for a Cure “Celebrates Miracles by the Million”
- The SMA Community now has 11 new therapeutic development programs in progress, compared to just 1 in 2000
- 3 Treatments in clinical trial
- Families of SMA has announced $3 Million in new research funding and a $1 Million investment for Family Support and Patient Services programs that include:
- Seven new Basic Research Awards
- Two new Drug Discovery programs
- New investments in Clinical Research projects
- Studies to improve patient care
2013 Cruising for a Cure
- Breakthrough year for Concert for a Cure - raising over $1.1 million towards FSMA research and treatments, making it the most successful fundraising event for SMA on the West Coast.
2014 UnCork the Cure
- "UnCork the Cure" in 2014 brought the total raised at Concert for a Cure to $1.3 million for SMA research and treatments!
- In August of 2014 Families of SMA became Cure SMA.
- Cure SMA’ is our vision, and it’s also our rallying cry – it’s why we keep fighting and funding research and raising awareness. It is a big change that comes at a time of great progress and promise for our community. In the last decade, we have taken huge strides together over the years and today there are more clinical and more paths to a treatment than ever before.
2015 Shoot for the Cure
- In 2015, "Shoot for the Cure", helped raise our total to $1.5 million!
2016 Champions for a Cure
- In 2016, "Champions for a Cure", an Olympic themed gala, continued our inspirational journey to bring hope to cure SMA and raised our total to $1.6 million raised!
2017 Round Up the Cure
- December 23, 2016 - First ever treatment for SMA, Spinraza, was approved by the FDA for use on all types and ages of SMA patients! Treatments begin to be administered during the first half of 2017.
- We look forward to sharing our exciting Western theme, Round Up the Cure, to shine the light on our cause.
2018 Aloha to the Cure
- April 21, 2018 Aloha to the Cure
2019 Jazz & Jeans for the Cure
- May 11, 2019 for Jazz & Jeans for the Cure